# Are quartic minimal polynomials over $\mathbb{Q}$ always reducible over $\mathbb{F}_p$?

This situation arose while studying biquadratic extensions.

Let $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha)$ is some biquadratic extension, with $m(x)$ the minimal polynomial of $\alpha$. Suppose that $m(x)\in\mathbb{Z}[x]$. Basic field theory and simple definitions tells us that $\deg(m(x))=4$, and $m(x)$ is irreducible over $\mathbb{Q}$. However, is $m(x)$ always reducible over $\mathbb{F}_p$, for $p$ a prime?

The reason I'm interested is that I noticed that the quartic $x^4+1$, known to be irreducible over $\mathbb{Q}$ is actually reducible over $\mathbb{F}_p$ for the first few primes at least. For example, $x^4+1$ can be reduced as $(x+1)^4\pmod{2}$, $(x^2+x-1)(x^2-x-1)\pmod{3}$, $(x^2+2)(x^2-2)\pmod{5}$, $(x^2+3x+1)(x^2-3x+1)\pmod{7}$.

So I'm wondering if $m(x)$ is the minimal polynomial of some algebraic integer of degree $4$, is it actually reducible over $\mathbb{F}_p$ for any prime?

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The particular case of $x^4+1$ has been answered here. –  Jyrki Lahtonen Nov 30 '11 at 20:53
And the general case follows (with a little bit of algebraic number theory) from the answers to this question. The quick summary is that when $m(x)$ has no repeated factors modulo $p$, and $\beta$ is a root of $m(x)$ in some extension field of $m(x)$, then the Galois group $Gal(F_p(\beta)/F_p)$ is a quotient group of a subgroup of $Gal(\mathbb{Q}(\alpha)/\mathbb{Q})$. Because the latter is biquadratic, the former cannot be cyclic of order four. Hence $m(x)$ must factor over $F_p$. –  Jyrki Lahtonen Nov 30 '11 at 20:55
Thank you @JyrkiLahtonen. I was hoping to see an explanation that doesn't involve algebraic number theory, since I don't know that. This Galois theory summary seems accessible though, do you mind elaborating it to an answer when you find the time? Sincerely, Dedede. –  Dedede Nov 30 '11 at 21:04
Dedede, I tried to complete an argument based on the fact the field of order $p^2$ is unique: In your setting the field $\mathbf{Q}(\alpha)$ is a composition of two quadratic extension fields. The upshot is that the composition of two quadratic extension field of $F_p$ is still $F_{p^2}$ (because of the uniqueness). Can't finish that argument now to an answer, because I need to get some sleep. More knowledgeable people will hopefully show up while I'm counting sheep. –  Jyrki Lahtonen Nov 30 '11 at 21:26
@JyrkiLahtonen Of course, thank you for your effort. I'd be interested in seeing your argument when it's more convenient. –  Dedede Dec 1 '11 at 0:05

An elementary argument, without any explicit reference to Galois theory:

Suppose the biquadratic extension is $K = \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{B}, \sqrt{C})$, where $B$ and $C$ are integers (and none of $B$, $C$, $BC$ a rational square). Then any element $\alpha$ of $K$ has the form

$\alpha = a + b\sqrt{B} + c\sqrt{C} + d \sqrt{BC}$

for some $a, b, c, d \in \mathbb{Q}$. This $\alpha$ satisfies the polynomial

\begin{align*}f(X) =& (X - a - b\sqrt{B} - c\sqrt{C} - d\sqrt{BC})\cdot(X - a + b\sqrt{B} + c\sqrt{C} - d\sqrt{BC})\\ &\qquad{}\cdot (X - a + b\sqrt{B} - c\sqrt{C} + d\sqrt{BC})\cdot(X - a - b\sqrt{B} + c\sqrt{C} + d\sqrt{BC}).\end{align*}

Convince yourself that $f(X)$ is in $\mathbb{Q}[X]$. (This is where a bit of Galois theory helps.) If $\alpha$ is integral over $\mathbb Q$, then in fact $f(X) \in \mathbb{Z}[X]$. If $\alpha$ generates $K$ over $\mathbb{Q}$, then $f(X)$ is irreducible and is the minimal polynomial of $\alpha$ over $\mathbb{Q}$. We want to show that if $\alpha$ is integral then $f(X)$ will always factor in $\mathbb{F}_p[X]$.

The key observation is that at least one of $B$, $C$, and $BC$ will be a square modulo $p$. Convince yourself that this is true: the product of two nonsquares modulo $p$ is a square modulo $p$. (One way to do this is note that a nonsquare has to be an odd power of a generator of $\mathbb{F}_p^\times$.)

So let's suppose that $BC \equiv S^2 \pmod{p}$. (The argument will work essentially the same way if we assume that $B$ or $C$ is a square modulo $p$ instead; convince yourself of this at the end.)

So we have

\begin{align*}f(X) =& \big((X - a - d\sqrt{BC}) - (b\sqrt{B} + c\sqrt{C})\big)\big((X - a - d\sqrt{BC}) + (b\sqrt{B} + c\sqrt{C})\big)\\ &\qquad {} \cdot \big((X - a + d\sqrt{BC}) + (b\sqrt{B} - c\sqrt{C})\big)\big((X - a + d\sqrt{BC}) - (b\sqrt{B} - c\sqrt{C})\big)\\ =& \big((X - a - d\sqrt{BC})^2 - (b\sqrt{B} + c\sqrt{C})^2\big)\\ &\qquad {} \cdot \big((X - a + d\sqrt{BC})^2 - (b\sqrt{B} - c\sqrt{C})^2\big)\\ =& \big((X - a)^2 + d^2BC - 2d(X-a)\sqrt{BC} - b^2B - c^2C - 2bc \sqrt{BC}\big)\\ &\qquad {} \cdot \big((X - a)^2 + d^2BC + 2d(X-a)\sqrt{BC} - b^2B - c^2C + 2bc \sqrt{BC}\big)\\ \equiv& \big((X - a)^2 + d^2BC - 2d(X-a)S - b^2B - c^2C - 2bc S\big)\\ &\qquad {} \cdot \big((X - a)^2 + d^2BC + 2d(X-a)S - b^2B - c^2C + 2bcS\big) \pmod{p},\end{align*} which is a product of two quadratics in $\mathbb{F}_p[X]$.

In the case where all three of $B$, $C$, $BC$ are squares modulo $p$, the quadratic factors of $f(X)$ will split further into linear factors in $\mathbb{F}_p[X]$.

As to your other question -- or maybe it was just a typo, but in any case -- no, it's not true that every irreducible monic quartic polynomial in $\mathbb{Z}[X]$ factors over every $\mathbb{F}_p$. For example, $g(X) = X^4 + X + 1$ is irreducible in $\mathbb{F}_2[X]$. To see this, first plug $X= 0$ and $X =1$ into $g(X)$ to see that there are no mod $2$ roots. To see that $g(X)$ doesn't factor into a product of two irreducible quadratics, note that $X^2 + X + 1$ is the only monic irreducible quadratic of $\mathbb{F}_2$ (write them all down and check for roots), and $(X^2 + X + 1)^2 = X^4 + 2X^3 + 3X^2 + 2X + 1 \equiv X^4 + X^2 + 1 \not\equiv g(X)$. Since $g(X)$ is not divisible by any irreducible linears or quadratics, it has to be irreducible.

In fact, you can show that every $\mathbb{F}_p[X]$ has irreducible polynomials of every degree.

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You may find of interest the paper below, which refers to the pertinent theory and also presents an algorithm to compute the splitting type of quartics over $\:\mathbb F_p\:.\:$

Adams, William W. Splitting of Quartic Polynomials, Math. Comp. 43 167 (1984) 329-343.

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